Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Associated Antigen 4 (CTLA4)

CTLA4 is a protein that plays an important regulatory role in the immune system. In humans, the CTLA4 protein is encoded by the CTLA4 gene.CTLA4 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, which is expressed on the surface of Helper T cells and transmits an inhibitory signal to T cells.

CTLA4 is similar to the T-cell costimulatory protein CD28, and both molecules bind to CD80 and CD86 on antigen-presenting cells. CTLA4 transmits an inhibitory signal to T cells, whereas CD28 transmits a stimulatory signal. Intracellular CTLA4 is also found in regulatory T cells and may be important to their function. T cell activation through the T cell receptor and CD28 leads to increased expression of CTLA-4, an inhibitory receptor for B7 molecules.